my dog won't walk on a lead

Asked Feb 16, 2010, 02:21 AM
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12 Answers

We have recently adopted a border collie x. He is absolutely terrified of the lead. When I clip the lead to his collar, he sits down and won't budge. I tried a harness, thinking the previous owner may have pulled at him or used a choke collar; but it was even worse with the harness. When we put the harness on him, he started crying and wet himself.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I'm not a huge fan of this method but I have seen it work: try and just clip the lead on his collar in the house and let him drag it around for a day or two.
Get him used to the feeling of pulling.
He will hopefully get used to the sensation, and eventually walk around like normal. Call him towards you a few times during the day and then he does walk with it on give him lots of praise and treats.

Once he is comfortable with that you can move onto actually holding onto the lead.

The only reason I don't particularly like this method is that is can teach the dog to bite/chew the lead so just be mindful of that.

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You might try changing how he views the leash. Go slow with him and try to make the leash a positive thing rather than a negative. Praise and treats when he doesn't shy away from it. Be careful that you don't praise him for being afraid.

This is just an example: On an episode of It's Me of the Dog, Victoria Stilwell used a spoonful of peanut butter to help ease a dog's fear of the leash. She held the spoon next to his coiled up leash and let the dog lick the spoon. The sensation of getting something good over-road the bad feelings the leash invoked.

Good luck.

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The only thing that I have found that works with leash fear is bringing the leash out, letting him smell it, treat. Put it away. Bring it out, let him smell it, leave it on the floor, when your dog goes over to smell or inspect it on his own, treat, put the leash away. Next time bring the leash out try and clip it on, reward, if he starts whining, take it off, and start over again.
Be patient. Dogs, like people, learn at different rates. Some dogs may take weeks and even months of patient training.

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Thanks to all for some excellent suggestions. I had already started putting the lead on him and leaving it on for a while, but will back off and use a combination of Aurora's suggestion & Cat's - then try to work up to actually having the lead on as per Shazza's. I have to work slowly however, as he still has puppy tendency to chew. I failed to mention that he is approximately 1-2 years old, he showed up at our front gate and after a brief stint at the shelter (hoping that someone wouldn't claim him, but given that he wasn't chipped didn't think that was very likely) brought him home.
I also have an older female corgi/fox terrier x - she helps keep him in line when he gets too rambunctious, and he generally follows her lead, except in the case of going for a walk (as yet)
Thanks again!

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Well, it has been a month and this is what I have been doing:
Keeping the leash on him for at least 30 minutes a day
Using the leash when I go in and out of the house, taking him with me (he generally follows me everywhere)
Walking short (and I do mean short) distances - usually up and down the driveways.
Last week, we (Frankie & I went for a walk outside the fence - about 40 metres. I didn't push my luck and we haven't tried to go out of the fence until tonight, when we walked on the leash about 200 metres.
So, we are making progress! When he stops and balks at walking I crouch down to his lever and encourage him to "come on, let's go". He gets treats when we are back inside the yard.

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So, we are making progress! When he stops and balks at walking I crouch down to his lever and encourage him to "come on, let's go". He gets treats when we are back inside the yard.

Thank you for keeping us updated. I am glad you are making progress.

One question, are you giving him treats when walking outside the yard or only when he is in the yard? It sounds like you may want to 'treat' him outside the yard when he is being well-behaved such as walking along nicely, heeling, stopping at curbs, ignoring or safely greeting other animals and people, etc.

I hope he keeps up the progress. :)

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Hiya Cat
Actually last night was the first time he has walked more than a few metres outside the gate since we had him. It has taken a month to get him to walk that far.
It is apparent from his behavior that whoever mistreated him prior to him landing on our doorstep was a male - when my husband tells him "no!" Frankie will immediately flatten his ears, the tail goes between the legs and he either skulks off to his "spot" or rolls over and exposes his belly.
We weren't making any progress at all until the husband went out of town for a week and I took over the leash training exclusively.
Last night was the first time ever that Frankie has walked on the leash more that the few metres of the driveway or around the house, so it was a huge breakthrough for him.

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Hiya Cat
Actually last night was the first time he has walked more than a few metres outside the gate since we had him. It has taken a month to get him to walk that far.
It is apparent from his behavior that whoever mistreated him prior to him landing on our doorstep was a male - when my husband tells him "no!" Frankie will immediately flatten his ears, the tail goes between the legs and he either skulks off to his "spot" or rolls over and exposes his belly.
We weren't making any progress at all until the husband went out of town for a week and I took over the leash training exclusively.
Last night was the first time ever that Frankie has walked on the leash more that the few metres of the driveway or around the house, so it was a huge breakthrough for him.

It sounds like you are doing everything you can with him and he is responding. It may be slow progress, but it is progress. :)

Good work and good luck. :)

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It is apparent from his behavior that whoever mistreated him prior to him landing on our doorstep was a male - when my husband tells him "no!" Frankie will immediately flatten his ears, the tail goes between the legs and he either skulks off to his "spot" or rolls over and exposes his belly.

Sounds like Hubby needs to become more of a playmate to get him over his fear. Just sitting on the floor and petting can work wonders. A few treats and a little obedience work, just on basics like sit, stay, down, wait, and improvements should move right along.

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Thank you for coming back and keeping us updates, very much appreciated! :)

I have seen many dogs who are fine with women, but are petrified of men. They haven't been abused or hit, it's just the way some are.
Mine will do the sulking and cowering in the corner if they get in trouble for something (being told no) but they have never been beaten.

I like Cats idea of just getting your husband to be a playmate for now.
Get him to gain Frankies trust and make him one of the pack before training.

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